OFC Futsal Men’s Nations Cup 2022

(Photo credit OFC Media via Kirk Corrie)

After a three-year hiatus the OFC Nations Cup returned in 2022 for the first time post the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was also the first edition to be renamed the OFC Futsal Nations Cup, from the OFC Futsal Championship. The tournament was held in Suva, Fiji, with all matches played at the Vodafone Arena, and was contested by eight teams. The format consisted of two groups of four, with the top two in each group progressing to the semi-finals. A Fijian FA Presidents five was drawn alongside New Zealand, Tonga, and Vanuatu in Group A, whilst hosts Fiji were joined in Group B by two-time defending champions the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Samoa.

2019 runners-up New Zealand finished as the only unbeaten side in Group A, opening with a 5-1 victory over the Fiji FA Presidents five, before drawing with Vanuatu 1-1, and smashing Tonga 15-1. They secured top spot in the group as such, whilst the race for second came down to a decisive clash between the Fiji FA Presidents five and Vanuatu on the final day, in which the Fiji FA Presidents five booked their place in the semi-finals with a tense 3-2 victory.

(Photo credit OFC Media via Kirk Corrie)

The Solomon Islands made a statement early, with big 11-4 and 9-3 wins over Samoa and New Caledonia to kick start their campaign. The two-time champions were held to a thrilling 6-6 draw by hosts Fiji in their final group fixture, but still topped the group with an unbeaten record. A hat-trick from Uge Qenegeie proved crucial as New Caledonia joined them in the semi-finals, defeating Fiji 4-2 to secure second in the group.

Both semi-finals were won in convincing fashion, as New Zealand defeated New Caledonia 6-1 in the first semi-final, before the Solomon Islands beat the Fiji FA Presidents five 5-1 in the second, setting up a rematch of 2019’s thrilling OFC Futsal Nations Cup final.

(Photo credit OFC Media via Kirk Corrie)

After finishing runners-up on three previous occasions, New Zealand finally made history as just the fourth nation to win the OFC Futsal Nations Cup with a big 6-2 victory over the Solomon Islands in the final. Three goals from Rahan Ali inspired New Zealand as they claimed their first continental crown at the Vodafone Arena in Suva. Ali would go on to receive both the golden ball and the golden boot, whilst his teammate Mike Antamanov received the golden glove. Samoa picked up the fair play award, whilst elsewhere New Caledonia claimed the bronze medal with a 5-3 win over the Fiji FA Presidents Five in the third-place play-off.